As far back as 2003, having lost the General Election the year before, Basdeo Panday begun to sound the trumpet for Constitutional reform.
It was his rallying cry and his reply to his rejection by the electorate and the fact that he was beginning to lose national flair and appeal.
In the last five years Panday vowed not to support any legislation that the PNM Government brought to the Parliament, particularly those that required a special majority for passage, unless an agreement could be reached on remodelling the nation's Constitution.
His answer to crime, poverty, unemployment, the deteriorating public utilities and alienation was Constitutional reform.
In 2009, months before his trashing at the UNC internal poll, Panday even sought the endorsement and encouragement of his call from Prime Minister Patrick Manning in a closed door meeting at Whitehall.
The tables have now been turned.
In what is perhaps the most consummate about-turn, Panday now seeks comfort in the very Constitution that he abhorred.
Panday's clinging to the post of Opposition Leader is done in reliance of Section 83 of the Constitution which provides for the President to appoint the Leader of the Opposition who in the President's judgment is best able to command the support of the greatest number of members of the House of Representatives.
Having lost an internal party election by 12,134 votes, mustering a mere 1,359 votes himself, Panday decides to hide behind the very Constitution that he had earlier opined as being archaic, outmoded and anachronistic.
Surely, this is philosophically incongruent, contradictory and politically schizophrenic.
Panday's self-inflated political aspirations must give way to the ambitions of the people before an embarrassing implosion that would effectively end the career of a Caribbean icon.
To continue to frustrate the will of the people is politically indecent and licentious.
You have lost votes and an election Mr. Panday, but you can still win respect and admiration.
Respectfully,
Ashvani Mahabir | Attorney-at-Law
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Jai & Sero
Our family at home in Toronto 2008
Amit, Heather, Fuzz, Aj, Jiv, Shiva, Rampa, Sero, Jai
2 comments:
Excellent points Ashvani, I agree on all counts
It demonstrates how our corrupt politicians hide behind an unjust system to carry out thier agenda. If only the people can wake up and see through these diplomatic bandits and reject them all until they understand that they must act in our interest.
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